Have you ever thought about why people expand their businesses to America? On the other hand, have you wondered why they don’t? America is a business hot spot. It holds the status as the largest economy in the world. You might would think that would be as a good enough reason as any to do business there. However, the US does have its flaws. Therefore, some people decide not to do business there. Recently, UK business owners shared why they were reluctant to move their businesses to the US.

 

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Survey Reveals Attitudes of UK Business Owners Toward America

A survey was recently commissioned by American expansion experts Foothold America. The results revealed a number of reasons why business owners in the UK are hesitant to expand their businesses overseas.

For example, the election of Donald Trump prompted 51% of UK-based business owners to admit that they were either less or much less likely to expand to the US. Moreover, almost half of UK business owners said that US politics in general would deter them from expanding to America.

 

Some UK Business Owners Look on the Bright Side

It isn’t all doom and gloom, however. That’s because business in America is thriving. Therefore, if you own a business in the UK, expanding your business to the US is likely to have many benefits.

Some of America’s main attractions are their access to world-class talent. What’s more, there is no language barrier for UK business owners. This point is favored by 46% of male business owners in the UK. For some, better weather made the US a more appealing location.

 

Review the Survey Results Below

If you would like to know more about UK business owners’ thoughts on business in the US, you’ll find some interesting statistics on the data cards below.

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As the owner of a small business, you understand that your business does not exist in a vacuum. For one thing, you must continue to take care of your personal responsibilities as well as those which pertain to your company. For example, do you have a child who needs some help with a science class?

When children get into the upper levels of science, such as chemistry and physics, some have a difficult time keeping up. Moreover, as kids age, they begin to develop special interests and talents. Some are better at the arts, while others take to math and science. This can be frustrating, especially for kids who have always done well in school. They may begin to have a fear of the sciences that can lead to poor performance in science class. However, modern technology has made tutoring extremely convenient and efficient.

 

 

Various Degrees of Help

Online tutoring is a great way to fit homework help into your child’s schedule. What’s more, it is also a great opportunity for teachers to make extra money on the side. Online sites for academic assistance offer various degrees service. For example, perhaps a student is stuck on only one question. Help can be limited to a single time, as-needed, experience. What’s more, you can access everything from detailed concepts to study notes and paper editing. Moreover, science is only one of the many subjects that tutors can address. Additionally, face-to-face tutoring on a regular basis is also available.

 

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Specialties

High school is often the time when students begin to take on more in-depth concepts in all subjects. Often, several science credits are required for graduation. Your child’s science class might be biology, chemistry, or physics. These are the most common courses that high school students all over the country take.

Further, upper level English, history, and math are also included on tutoring websites. A student can simply log in and receive chemistry homework help. Experts in all subjects are available for more detailed sessions. These can include instruction from college students or certified teachers.

Tutoring is effective because students often need a different perspective to grasp scientific theories and concepts. One-on-one instruction adds the extra explanation that may be missing from classroom lessons in their science class.

 

Self-Esteem and Science Class

When kids begin to fail courses, their self-esteem can plummet. This often causes an even faster decline that can include several subjects. Moreover, it can be difficult for them to raise their grade point average (GPA) once this cycle begins.

However, when help is available, students often feel more hopeful about their abilities. Once they receive help, their self-esteem often begins to improve. Moreover, tutors guide students through their work in a way that helps them learn how to do it on their own.

Some students may only need help for a short time. On the other hand, others may rely on science tutoring throughout their high school career. It is worth the extra effort, however, as the teen years are difficult enough in many ways. Adolescents don’t need the added stress of a lowered self-image due to falling grades, especially when this can be so easy to avoid.

 

Conclusion

It is not reasonable to expect kids to excel at every subject without occasional help. What’s more, science classes become increasingly more difficult as the years pass. This is great for those who wish to pursue science as a career. However, it can be daunting for those with other talents.

Many students who have issues with a science class may also need tutoring for upper-level math courses. A specialized tutor can help your child’s grades improve. What’s more, a tutor can help them to feel good about themselves.

If you’re looking to learn about digital marketing agencies, look no further. That’s because this guide will tell you everything you need to know. We’ll talk about the roles, the work, and what you can expect as a client. In short, this guide to your digital marketing agency is here to help.

 

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What Is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is marketing that you do online. Basically, digital marketing agencies engage in the following six disciplines:

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

If your site has robust SEO, it will rank higher on search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo. This means your prospective customers can find you more easily.

SEO relies heavily on keyword research. Further, the process involves building links, optimizing content, and improving your site overall. All of these things will make your site more search-engine-friendly.

What’s more, continuously improving your SEO needs to be a long-term strategy.

2. Paid Search Advertising (PPC [Pay Per Click])

If quick visibility is key, then PPC is for you. Also called “paid search advertising,” PPC involves advertising on Google and Bing. With a PPC ad, your site will be displayed above organic search results. Then, Google and Bing charge your account whenever anyone clicks on your ad.

In contrast to developing your long-term SEO game plan, PPC works as a short-term strategy. However, it goes hand-in-hand with SEO. Both SEO and PPC are forms of search engine marketing.

3. Content Marketing

Content marketing involves creating quality content. Think images, videos, blogs, and articles. Quality content is a big part of robust SEO. Plus, content is a great way of building a brand and engaging users. However, this is true only if your content is interesting, engaging, and informative.

4. Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing involves managing social media accounts. In other words, you engage on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Your posts on these channels will help to spread the word about your brand.

As with content marketing, it involves creating engaging content for your followers. Additionally, it includes paid advertising on social media platforms.

Social media marketing is primarily about engaging users and driving traffic to your website.

5. Influencer and Affiliate Marketing

Influencer marketing happens when you persuade people who have lots of followers on social media to market your business on their sites.

Similarly, affiliate marketing involves collaborating with industry experts (affiliates) to market your business through content creation, often on their blogs.

These forms of marketing are especially great for driving sales of your products.

6. Email Marketing

Email marketing is a form of direct marketing. Using mailer tools and subscriber lists, you target specific consumers. Then you approach them through their email inbox.

In your messages, you can inform them about your products. Alternatively, you can pass along information or special offers.

 

Digital Marketing Agency Roles

As for who does what in an agency, below is an overall summary.

Executives and experts do the actual work on the campaign. Perhaps they will optimize a site for SEO. Or they might manage posting for social media marketing. Regardless of the specific task, you can count on having at least one of these experts working on your account.

Large agencies with big clients who spend a lot of money generally have someone who oversees the work of the experts. Account managers are the people who make sure everything runs smoothly for those big-spending clients.

• Marketing or Department Managers

You’ll generally find marketing or department managers in smaller agencies. Their roles are similar to those of account managers. They help to ensure that all goes well with clients’ accounts.

Department heads oversee the individual departments. They are ultimately accountable for clients’ campaigns and strategies.

Directors sit at the top of the organization and supervise the work of the department heads.

Naturally, these roles can vary widely from agency to agency. For example, in some large agencies there are separate department managers for PPC, content, social media, and so on. Additionally, some agencies employ creatives such as web developers and graphic designers.

 

What to Expect from Your Digital Marketing Agency

Always look first at the services the agencies offer. A good agency will offer only a few services. However, a great agency will offer all forms of digital marketing. Below is a checklist to help you make your decision:

• Look for agencies that have a portfolio of work.
• Review their case studies and read testimonials from other clients.
• Make sure your digital marketing agency understands your vision of your company.
• Inquire about how the agency communicates and reports. You’ll want to receive regular updates on your campaign.
• Make sure you will have a point of contact at the agency.
• Before you sign on, be sure that your agency will be willing to make changes if your campaign is not yielding results.
• Ensure that you can trust your digital marketing agency to report honestly to you.
• Finally, make sure you relate well with the people at the agency. You’ll be working closely with these people. Therefore, a friendly working relationship with them is key.

Finally

An investment in digital marketing—with the right agency—will pay off in spades for your company. We hope we have helped you to understand how it all works with this post.

You should always purchase any insurance policy with care. This is especially true in the case of commercial vehicle insurance.

In order to gain access to the most appealing benefits, it can be helpful to know a little about what you’re looking for before you contact an insurance company. Most small business owners appear to be targeting certain benefits over others when it comes to commercial vehicle insurance. Among them are the following:

 

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Insurance Company Stability

If you or one of your employees were to have an accident with one your business’s vehicles, you would want immediate service from your insurance company, right?

Imagine, then, discovering that your insurance company has gone bankrupt and can’t provide you with the financial coverage they initially promised you. This could happen if your insurance company only recently entered the industry. Therefore, look to see that the company you’re dealing with has some longevity and stability.

Do some research even before you contact them. Look into various aspects about the company that can give you some clues. For example, how is the firm doing in today’s market? Are they making an actual profit? For how long have they been in businesses? Are there any red flags regarding their stability?

Don’t just rush into anything just because one company presents you with what appears to be a great commercial vehicle insurance deal. If you do, you might end up making an unpleasant mistake.

 

Powerful Clientele Range

Smart business owners who rely on commercial vehicle insurance generally look into the insurance company’s list of clients before they purchase a policy. If you can see that other successful businesses are clients of the firm, you’ll know that you are considering a reliable option.

Learning about the insurance companies used by Uber or Lyft drivers, for example, can be a great starting point. Those who have entered the ride-sharing business are usually careful with their choice of commercial vehicle insurance. Therefore, the companies they rely on are likely to be reliable and trustworthy.

If you don’t have any acquaintances who can provide you with advice or recommendations on commercial vehicle insurance firms, do a search on the Internet. Look for forums where discussions about commercial vehicle insurance are taking place. You’re bound to learn about the most popular options. This will give you a starting point in your hunt for the best commercial vehicle insurance.

Additionally, read referrals and testimonials. These will simplify your selection process, too.

 

Customization Opportunities

If you have specific needs about your commercial vehicle insurance coverage, seek a company that offers customization. Some companies on the market have pre-planned packages. Others, however, are characterized by flexibility. These companies will allow you to personalize your policy so that it’s best for your situation.

Therefore, when you are contacting different firms, make this one of the first questions you ask. Regardless of the nature of your business and what you plan to use the vehicle for, you should gain the level of financial protection that matches perfectly to your case. Flexible policy terms and conditions will make this possible.

 

Customer Service

When you are not familiar with commercial vehicle insurance, it’s important to work with insurers who can make things clearer for you. Importantly, you’ll want someone who will give you the support you need. An insurance company with excellent customer service will always be the better and safer choice.

Notice if the agents you contact are taking their time to fully explain their offers in terms you can actually understand. If they are clear and transparent in their responses and are dedicated to helping you, it’s a sign that they value you as a potential client.

 

Reasonable Prices

Finally, make sure you spend some time comparing prices. It’s probably not the wisest choice to go for the cheapest option. That’s because the cheapest deal might not give you the level of coverage you need.

However, you can still get a great deal if you consider your options carefully. Different insurance companies might charge different prices for similar benefits. Research is key in this situation. Therefore, get quotes from several firms on the market.

Since commercial vehicle insurance policies are priced higher than policies for individuals, a commercial vehicle insurance policy that comes with a fixed payment plan might be a good choice. At the very least, you should seek any opportunity to lower your costs if you can.

 

 

Make the Right Choice for Your Commercial Vehicle Insurance

When it comes to choosing a policy for your business’s commercial vehicle insurance, be sure to do your research. You never know when you’re going to need for your insurance policy to come to the rescue. Therefore, making the right choice is truly important.

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If your sales team is underperforming, sales enablement may be the solution. A sales enablement platform streamlines the sales process. However, sales enablement isn’t a catch-all solution. It can’t fix fundamental problems with your team members or management.

It’s important to look at the many internal factors that could be causing your sales team to underperform. You need to identify whether the problem lies with your processes or with even deeper issues. In this article, we look at some of the main problems that cause sales teams to underperform. We also ask whether a sales enablement platform can resolve these problems.

 

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The Top Reasons Why a Sales Team Underperforms

There are a number of reasons why sales teams underperform. Some of these are easier to fix than others. The reason might be critical flaws with your business’s offering. Or maybe it’s a lack of incentive for salespeople or something else. The severity of the reasons will determine how you should address them and if sales enablement can play a part.

Why Sales Organizations Fail

The success of any sales organization is dependent on several factors. Issues with just one of these can cause sales teams to fail. Therefore, it’s critical that you have a solid foundation for your sales team to build on.

In an article for the Harvard Business Review, “Why Sales Organizations Fail,” Steve W. Martin outlines the four sales stages where failure can happen.

The important lesson here is that you need to make sure your organization as a whole is functioning properly. Further, you need to ensure that your processes are set up for success. What’s more, you must do this before you evaluate your sales team’s underperformance.

 

Why Sales Teams Underperform

There are a number of reasons sales teams underperform. Some are directly related to the failure of the organization as a whole. Still others come down to management, team leads, and individual salespeople themselves.

1. Sales reps are not given the credit they deserve.

Some organizations view sales reps as being at the bottom of the food chain. In reality, however, your sales team plays a vital role. That is, they create business and keep the sales pipeline alive. Without sales, the company will fail.

Unfortunately, sales teams are often forgotten when praise is given in the boardroom. Their contributions aren’t even acknowledged at times. Moreover, some business owners believe that sales team members are expendable.

On the contrary, however, there are significant costs—in terms of time, money, and company morale—that accompany the hiring and training of new people.

2. There is no clear mission.

Selling more of X and even more of Z does not qualify as a mission. This is not a rallying cry that readies your sales team members to tackle the market.

Salespeople are human and they need purpose. That is, they need to have something bigger than themselves that they believe in. This helps them make that vital connection with their prospects. Having a clear vision gives your sales team pride in your business. If you don’t have a coherent mission statement that is unique to your business alone, your sales will be severely affected.

3. There is no standard definition of the term “qualified lead.”

There have been epic battles between marketing and sales teams as to what constitutes a qualified lead. Such disparities within your business aren’t beneficial to the business. When one team—or multiple teams—bring in seemingly qualified leads, the result is wasted time and resources. What ensues are unnecessary debate and conflict between colleagues and numerous lost leads. Salespeople, having failed to meet their targets, are the ones that pay the price. And it’s a vicious cycle, as no one addresses the real issues behind underperformance.

4. Poor compensation plans and weak incentives lead to low morale.

Lack of compensation for successfully closed deals can lead to lower morale and decreased productivity. What’s more, it can significantly affect employee turnover.

As a business, you should be offering your sales team a fair commission bonus for closed sales. Such rewards motivate a salesperson to perform. Plus, they also make them feel that they are contributing something important to the organization.

And, after all, they are. It’s only fair that you recognize and reward their contributions.

However, don’t underestimate the effect of other incentives. Consider different ways you can motivate your sales team that aren’t just monetary in nature.

 

5. Weak people fill management and leadership roles.

As Jeff Pruitt, Chairman and CEO of Tallwave, puts it: “If your team isn’t selling, the first place to look is in the mirror. Do you have processes in place that put the customer first? Have you implemented a feedback system that gives performance reviews on a regular basis? Could you rattle off the key components to your follow-up strategy? If your sales team is disorganized, confused, and flying by the seat of their collective pants, it’s probably because there wasn’t a solid process in place to begin with.”

A sales team can only work with what they’re given. They must rely on the processes you have in place. If these aren’t working, it is not their responsibility to change them. Of course, salespeople who can recognize that processes don’t work, and who are proactive and intuitive enough to suggest new ways of working, should be rewarded. However, management must be able to acknowledge that change needs to take place.

 

How Sales Enablement Can Help

Of course, the problems we’ve outlined above are not things that any tool can magically fix. These are fundamental issues with processes and set ways of working.

Sales enablement apps and tools streamline the sales process. They can increase sales. They can help you train new salespeople. And they can improve communication between teams and departments. However, they cannot define a qualified lead for your individual business or write your company mission statement for you.

On the other hand, if you have structured your organization well and are actively supporting your team to make more sales, but you aren’t getting results, sales enablement can help.

Below are some examples of how your team will benefit:

1. Quicker responses to leads’ requests

This may be a familiar situation: Your salesperson is away from his desk meeting a potential client and hoping to close the deal. Everything seems to be going smoothly and they’re about to shake hands. At the last moment, the prospect remembers something and requests more information. If your salesperson doesn’t have this information on hand and they have to start the infamous back and forth, it could delay, if not completely derail, the deal.

Sales enablement platforms allow you to store documents in the cloud for quick and easy retrieval when you need them. You can also save sales materials, such as an expected timeline or pricing information. This will allow you to save time and close deals faster. This way, you can give your potential client the information they ask for immediately. This will leave no excuses for not closing the deal.

2. Presenting information that is conducive to sales

Collateral is crucial for appealing to your prospects. This does not necessarily mean beautiful graphics and impressive numbers. Although these things can help, they may not be what actually works. With printed collateral, or even materials on laptops, this is difficult, if not impossible, to measure.

On the other hand, sales enablement apps give you insight into which materials have the biggest effect on closing deals. This will help you to know what will deliver results.

3. Adapting to last-minute changes

Let’s say your salesperson is waiting to meet a potential client. They notice an email sent, just minutes earlier, stating that a person from their prospect’s legal department will be joining the meeting. What’s more, this person has some questions.

Your salesperson enters panic mode. They can’t access the information quickly and easily, and they certainly can’t edit their presentation.

A sales enablement tool, such as a mobile presentation app, allows your sales team to retrieve such information and add it to their sales presentations. What could have been a deal breaker can easily turn into the one crucial thing that closes the deal. Not only could it clinch the sale, but your employee will also score points for being prepared for any eventuality. This is crucial for client satisfaction.

 

Wrapping Things Up

If your sales team is underperforming, you should first evaluate your company processes. Are they robust enough to support sales? If your processes are sound, sales enablement could be the advantage you’re missing.

 

About the Author

Charlotte Powell is head of Design and Marketing at iPresent Ltd. She says, “Driven by beautiful design and a great user experience, iPresent allows me to use my range of creative skills in an open environment. Here everyone is passionate about their field, creating an epic Sales Enablement Platform and making sure our customers are happy.”

Whether you run a restaurant, a book store, a gym, or similar kind of business, success boils down to one thing: getting customers to come back. That might seem simple in theory. However, gaining customer loyalty can be tricky in reality.

 

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In any industry, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of competitors ready and willing to take your business. This is doubly true if you live in a big city. Your business needs to be creative to keep people coming back. One way to do that is by rewarding customer loyalty.

 

What Is a Customer Loyalty Program?

So what is a customer loyalty program? It is an infrastructure businesses can implement in order to reward their regular customers for bringing in their repeat business. You have no doubt seen punch cards offered by coffee shops and diners. Often, they offer something like one free coffee after the purchase of ten. Other sorts of businesses have adapted this model in unique ways. For example, used book and record stores—even tattoo parlors—have customer loyalty programs.

 

There Are Different Types of Customer Loyalty Programs

While punch cards are the most common, they are certainly not the only form of customer loyalty program. Certain businesses, like electronics shops and movie theaters, offer customers the opportunity to sign up for special memberships. Customers who sign up can accumulate points toward future purchases.

Discount cards are a similar way of encouraging customers to return. As a matter of fact, there are multiple ways to intrigue customers with these programs. Some businesses charge a small sign-up fee. Others charge month-to-month. Still others offer them free of charge.

The best way to implement a program like this is to offer customers plastic cards. This might seem expensive and logistically complicated. However, in truth it is quite simple.

Companies like Avon Security Products sell plastic card printers. These printers are quite easy to set up and use. Many of them include a camera and high-resolution photo printing. This means you can customize your cards however you’d like.

 

Why Not Use Email?

Another popular form of customer loyalty program is an email list. Offer customers the opportunity to sign up for weekly or monthly emails. These messages would inform of customers of your business’s various discounts, events, and workplace developments. Offer specials and coupons specifically for those people who have signed up for your email list.

Additionally, allow people on your email list early access to products, before you start advertising them publicly. Since they’ve signed up, they likely have more interest in your product than the average customer anyhow. Another benefit is that it will keep your business in the minds of those people who regularly receive your emails. In other words, they will think first of your business when they need something you offer. What’s more, they will be less likely to visit a competitor.

 

 

Show Your Customers Some Love

Why not just practice some random acts of kindness? For instance, give out free cookies or candies at the front counter. Offer 50% off coffee for people who come in during certain hours.

Perhaps you could dedicate a day to “pampering” your regular customers. For example, give out free donuts, special discounts, or coupons for other shops in the neighborhood. Build a reputation as a fun and friendly place that appreciates its customers. The more your customers know that they are going to be rewarded for their business, the more likely they are to return.

Whether for business or for personal reasons, budgeting your money shows a sense of responsibility for putting your finances on the right track. But if you feel you need a little help, check out the budgeting apps we describe in this post. Any one of them will empower you to manage your finances more easily.

Budgeting will help you to understand your current expenses and forecast future ones. Therefore, every business should go through this critical process.

 

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To get started, simply download one of the budgeting apps we discuss here. They’re all created by top financial app development companies. And they will help you to make smarter decisions on the go, because they will give you flexibility with your budget. In other words, you’ll be able to adjust your expenses and revenue using real-time data.

 

With its more than 20 million users, Mint is one of the more popular budgeting apps available today. Users love its accurate and instant calculations. What’s more, this app will track all of your financial operations and offer valuable advice, too, so you can manage your money more easily. Plus, iPhone or Android users can download this app for free. Additionally, iPhone users can synchronize the app with Apple Watch as well.

Features

• Create budgets and track investments quickly and easily
• Get real-time access to reports and other information
• Instant alerts
• Budget for as many categories as you like
• Works well with variable expenses
• Generates customizable reports
• Provides quick analysis
• Secure access
• Data encrypted
• Intuitive features and powerful results
• Personalized tips and advice
• Makes it easy to track your credit score
• Gives you real-time results
• Free to download

A study from a top research company points out that end user needs are a key factor affecting mobile app development. Therefore, app developers need to keep users in mind while they are designing their apps.

Judging by the features and functionalities of the Mint app, this app appears to be driven by this logic. For example, just a few taps allow its users to perform various functionalities with regard to their finances. What’s more, the Mint app is an absolutely free budget planner that will walk with you wherever you go.

 

“Managing your budget does not have to be stressful,” says Jesse Mecham in his book, You Need a Budget.

The YNAB app is an award-winning financial and budgeting app that helps you gain financial peace, control, and stability. Remarkably, PCWorld listed this app under its editor’s choice list. In their notable review they note that the app is more than a budgeting tool. That’s because it can also enable users to improve all of their money habits.

Features

• A complete budgeting app
• Access to your real-time info
• Easily syncs all your bank accounts
• Real-time access to data
• Quick sharing
• Detailed spend report
• Advice on trends
• Debt Paydown tool
• Simple goal tracking
• All-time support
• Free trial for a specific period

As the name suggests, the app lets you plan a budget with the finances you have and those that you may acquire. Further, the app has some of the best features to help you set a balance between your earnings and your spending. In other words, the app helps you to be proactive instead of reactive.

“Instead of spending more, spend better,” said one financial advisor. YNAB is an app that will help you to accomplish this goal. Along with helping you to create a proper budget, the app guides, educates, and coaches you to manage your money in the best way by keeping your income in consideration.

 

Budgeting is boring no more. That’s because PocketGuard makes money management easier than ever. This app acts as an investment advisor, too, one that you can easily trust. With PocketGuard, you will control your money, your bills, and your budget on your phone. What’s more, you will do so anywhere and at any time.

Features

• Puts your budget on autopilot
• Personalized budget based on your income, bills and goals
• Connect with your credit cards and other investments
• Sync with your existing loans
• See all your finances in one place
• Instantly tracks each of your transaction and spend
• “In-my-pocket” facility allows you to understand your limit to spend
• Advice to improve your financial health
• Secured

This app will sync your bank accounts, loans, credit cards, and other investments. What’s more, it will track all your bills and subscriptions. Plus, it will track your income, too. Then, it will automatically suggest to you a budget based on your spending patterns, and it will alert you to unwanted risks. Such features make this app a standout when it’s compared with other apps.

 

Conclusion

Mobile apps are transforming many aspects of modern life, and the financial sector is no exception. This transformation is driving a strong move toward self-service and improved functionalities.

Budgeting apps such as the ones discussed in this article will help you to manage your finances better. Plus, many of them are free to download.

In this digital age, a well designed mobile financial planner, such as these budgeting apps, can add a lot of value and help you to stick to the process of managing your money well.

 

About the Author

Meenakshi Krishnan is a content consultant. A techie at heart, Meenakshi is passionate about the start-up ecosystem, entrepreneurship, the latest tech innovations, and all that makes this digital world. When she is not writing, she loves to read, cook, and paint.

At first glance, the marriage of healthcare and mobile apps may seem a strange one. Many older people have a fairly rarefied view of medical appointments and would never imagine incorporating their smartphones into the management of their personal health. But as access to — and acceptance of — digital solutions has become more commonplace the healthcare market has seen the beginnings of enormous disruptions to the status quo. According to a 2017 report from the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, there are currently more than 318,000 mobile health — or mHealth — apps available worldwide, with more added each day.

 

MHealth apps can take many forms, and even the most novice app user has almost certainly encountered at least one. Ranging in focus from nutrition and fitness to mental and medical health, the field is a broad one. Some of the more recognizable fitness apps include Youtube star Cassey Ho’s Blogilates, or Under Armour’s MyFitnessPal app, which helps track a user’s diet and count calories, but more and more developers are starting to see the opportunities that come along with creating apps geared towards medical health. Recent research by Accenture shows that 75% of surveyed consumers consider technology important to managing their health, and the number of people who use mHealth apps and accompanying wearable technology has more than doubled since 2014, from 16% to 48%.

 

The fact is that as consumers become more tech-literate on average, demand for mHealth apps will continue to increase. The “anytime, anywhere” factor of having tools to manage your health in your pocket is a major factor driving that demand, and Medical Economics reports that even as far back as 2010, 79% of survey respondents would be more likely to select a healthcare provider who allows them to conduct healthcare interactions either online or on a mobile device. And if all that doesn’t convince you that it’s an exciting time to be in the mHealth app market, then consider this: Research and Markets projected the 2018 value of the mHealth market to be US$28.320 billion and expects it to climb to US$102.35 billion within five years.

Of course, there’s always a catch.

Earlier, when we stated that there are more mHealth apps available each day, we meant it: some estimates hold that there are two hundred mHealth apps being added to the market each day. If you are aiming to enter the growing mHealth arena, it’s vital to enter with your best foot forward, and that means that you will want to get your mobile app professionally developed as soon as possible.

Going with an innovative, experienced app developer will help your app establish itself. Smaller mobile app developers, such as the highly regarded Guaraná Technologies, will provide the insight and know-how you’ll need to take your concept to market, and you’ll have the added advantage of not being lost in the shuffle of a larger app farm. While the market may be ripe for new entries, those entries will need to be as strong as possible before they are introduced, so don’t hesitate to get the professional insight that will make the difference.

Human health is a big field, and the opportunities to connect patients and mHealth apps are endless. The market is growing, and that growth shows absolutely no sign of slowing down anytime soon. From individual states launching their own mHealth app for state residents to apps and technology aimed at ever more specific medical purposes, there is plenty of yet-undiscovered territory, and now is the time to make it yours.

Photo by Matheus Bertelli from Pexels

A leading concern for any website in the modern online ecosystem is to optimize content for search engines. Further, optimizing for mobile is a key part of modern SEO.

In the past, mobile optimization was often an afterthought in web design. However, in 2018, optimizing content for mobile directly affects a website’s SEO metrics. Ever since Google’s mobile-friendly update, mobile optimization has been a factor in Google’s ranking algorithm. And any sites that haven’t optimized for mobile run the risk of penalties from the search engine.

But mobile content optimization isn’t just about pleasing Googlebot. Mobile devices account for more than half of all global web traffic. Therefore, mobile optimization is as much about making a site user-friendly as it is about pleasing search engines. Plus, search engines today use sophisticated ranking algorithms. This makes it easier than ever to optimize content on your website to appeal to search engines and users alike. This is true whether the traffic comes from a desktop computer, a mobile phone, or, yes, Googlebot.

Looking to soup up your website for mobile users and search engines in 2018? Here are a few key principles to optimize content on mobile for search engines and people.

 

Rely on Responsive Web Design

One of the central commandments of mobile optimization is responsive web design (RWD). Responsive design means that your website detects the size of the visitor’s device screen. Then it reshuffles and resizes the content automatically to suit that screen size. RWD stands in contrast to the two other primary methods for mobile optimization: dynamic serving and using separate URL’s.

Dynamic Serving

Dynamic serving involves using separate HTML code for your mobile and desktop site. You first program the website to detect the user’s device type. Then your website will serve either the desktop or mobile code accordingly. The URL stays the same with dynamic serving, but the CSS and HTML code change.

Separate URL’s

Separate URL’s, on the other hand, require the use of a subdomain for your mobile site. This means that if your website is normally located at www.exampleURL.com, your mobile site would live at m.exampleURL.com. Similar to dynamic serving, this involves using separate CSS and HTML code for both websites. Only this time, the URL changes as well.

Which Is Better?

From a user’s perspective, any of these approaches can work, but RWD and dynamic serving are preferable. Using separate URL’s can cause issues if users try to share your website by copying and pasting the link. If they send the mobile site to a desktop user, the desktop user may see the mobile site on their desktop. This could cause confusion. Dynamic serving allows for a streamlined experience on one URL. On the other hand, RWD is virtually seamless on any device.

From an SEO perspective, responsive design wins out. That’s because RWD is simpler and more elegant from a search engine’s perspective. Plus, it makes it entirely clear to Googlebot that your site is optimized for mobile. This alone will boost your rankings significantly. Responsive design is also entirely doable. Any reputable web development agency should have no problem implementing responsive design on your website. Even popular website builders like Squarespace offer responsive designs. Plus, Google recommends responsive design as a best practice.

 

Watch Your Page Load Times

One of the most neglected factors for SEO is the speed of your website. This is especially important for mobile optimization. Google carefully measures the speed of your website from a performance perspective. What’s more, this has a direct effect on your search rankings. But speed is about more than pleasing Googlebot.

Mobile users are often accessing content on the go. This means they’re likely to be impatient. If a page takes too long to load, users aren’t apt to wait around. In fact, one study found that 40% of users will leave if a page takes more than three seconds to load. Combine that with the fact that many mobile users are on slower, lower-bandwidth cell network connections. Therefore, it’s easy to see why speed is so important.

 

Optimize Content, Not Just the Website

Beyond back-end specifics like responsive design and site performance, how you structure and lay out the actual content of your site can have a dramatic effect on both search rankings and user experience (UX).

The easier your content is to read and interact with on a mobile device, the better your site will perform in terms of UX and SEO. This is largely because since Google’s RankBrain update, a big part of Google’s rankings is how users behave on a page. If Google thinks a website is frustrating mobile users based on user behavior, that will turn into a negative ranking signal to the algorithm. This means that the layout of your content—which is a major UX factor on mobile devices—can directly affect rankings.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: RANKBRAIN ALGORITHM FORCES MARKETERS TO DEVELOP NEW SEO STRATEGIES

 

So what does this mean in a practical sense? In short, if you want to optimize content for mobile, it needs to be easy to read on a tiny screen. Here are a few guidelines for making that happen:

15 or 16 point fonts are more than appropriate for body content. Don’t be afraid to write big and bold.

• Optimize Paragraphs for Mobile Readers

This means using a line break after every one or two sentences, instead of the traditional four- to six-sentence paragraph you learned in English class. Because text wrapping is tight on a mobile device, these short paragraphs are much easier to read.

If you really want to optimize content, the color of text and the color of the background should be dramatically different. This is easier to read on mobile devices, which may get glare from the sun if a user is outside.

 

It’s All About the User

Following these tips will help make your site more enticing to search engines. Ultimately, however, it’s the user who really counts. Search engines like Google are increasingly determining page ranks based on user behavior. This means that the only true form of SEO is having an excellent website. As the ranking algorithms get more sophisticated, this will only be more true.

And as more and more web users migrate from traditional desktop PC’s to ever-smaller mobile devices, optimizing for the user is increasingly synonymous with optimizing for mobile. No matter what industry you operate in, mobile optimization is one of the highest-leverage ways to improve your website and make it more appealing—both for search engines and for people.

 

Author Bio

Ben Lee is a tech influencer, one of Inc.’s 30 Under 30 Most Brilliant Entrepreneurs. He is also cofounder of Rootstrap, a digital creative studio that helps clients with strategy, development, and growth. Rootstrap works with clients to develop mobile apps, web platforms, chatbots, and emerging tech projects. Their clients include Fortune 100 companies and early-stage startups, and past clients range from Snoop Dogg to Google and Spotify.

People think that email is dead. However, it’s not. In fact, it’s very much alive! By 2020, more than 3 billion people worldwide will be using email. That’s 3 billion potential customers you can reach via your email marketing software.

Every day people send billions of emails. This number is expected to grow to 246 billion by the end of 2019. In short, email is still powerful. Plus, it’s a great way to communicate with your customers.

One way to maximize email is to tie it in with an equally powerful platform—social media. There are around 2.46 billion users of social media worldwide. Even more are expected by the end of the year.

Making these platforms work hand-in-hand can make your marketing automation strategy even more powerful than it already is. Here are some ways you can do that.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: INBOX ZERO: MANAGE YOUR EMAIL INBOX EFFECTIVELY

 

1. Add Your Email List to Your Social Networks

Uploading your email list to your social networks helps you to understand the kind of customers you have. By putting a face to your current subscribers, you can create a deeper relationship with them. Relationships are important, especially between a business and its customers.

Another good thing you can draw from this exercise is that you can get a glimpse of your customers’ needs. Browse through their feeds. This will help you to understand what makes them tick or what they are looking for in certain products.

 

2. Show Social Profiles in Your Emails

One great way to integrate email marketing and social media is by showing in your email campaigns that you have active social media accounts. By dedicating a space for them, people will be aware of your business’s presence across different platforms.

Amp up your display by adding a short overview of your account  beside each social media logo. In this way, people will know which platform they will prioritize in terms of following or which one they will check more often.

 

3. Embed Email Newsletter Signup Form on Your Facebook Page

Social media pages give your customers a mix and mash of readily available information. Give them a menu they can browse through depending on their needs.

Add a newsletter signup form on your page. This will encourage existing customers to sign up if they haven’t already. In this way, you will add more subscribers to your existing list. Check with your email marketing automation software to see if they offer this kind of service.

 

4. Promote Your Email Content on Social Media

Make your content diverse and flexible. That’s because another great way to maximize your resources is to syndicate your newsletters on different social media platforms. You can post on LinkedIn groups, Facebook groups, Twitter threads, and on other platforms as well. Why is this beneficial? You get to market your content to a different set of your audience on each of these platforms. This could then lead to new customers or subscribers to your email list, making them one step closer to converting them to your product.

Plus, you’ll save time in coming up with content. After all, you have the same message you want to deliver to each segment. This makes for a wise investment. At the same time, it’s a cost-efficient way to spread your presence over the digital space.

 

5. Create an Exclusive Social Community for Your Email Subscribers

Create an exclusive social community for your subscribers. This is a place where like-minded people can mingle, engage, and learn more about your business. In this way, you’ll have another avenue where you can build a more personal relationship with your customers.

Some great ways to keep it thriving are to:

• Create exclusive content for these communities
• Listen to their feedback about your business

This will give you a better understanding of how your current customers think and behave. Then use these insights to draft an even better strategy for promoting your business to your intended markets.

 

Wrapping Up

These are just a few tips for integrating social media with your email marketing.

Make your content work for you and don’t be afraid to explore options. For instance, you could embed a sign-up form on your social media pages.

Be creative so your customers and subscribers will actually engage with your content. Also, seek out an email marketing automation software that can help you seamlessly achieve your goals as quickly as possible.

 

Author Bio

Kimberly Maceda is a content writer for ActiveTrail. She writes for top online marketing sites and gives blogging advice on email marketing and marketing automation. ActiveTrail is a leading provider of professional-grade email marketing and automation software for growing businesses.